Intellectus Ex Nihilo (Wal-Mart on Ice)

[adarbrauner]

Pitiful the expenditure of torps on such minor targets, your DSs served very well their scope and the cause.

[Canoerebel]

12/2/44

Kwangchowan: The nasties get in amongst a supply TF, demolishing it.

[Canoerebel]

12/2/44

Kwangchowan: This RN DD TF is low on ammo after skirmishing earlier in the day, but it's still game. The Hyuga leads a weird little TF (and most of the DDs seen to this point have been second-tier, 6-pointers).

[Canoerebel]

12/2/44

Kwangchowan: Both sides low on ammo. When the sun comes up, some enemy combat ships may be vulnerable to air attack.

[Canoerebel]

12/2/44

Kwangchowan: The sun comes up and enemy aircraft sortie. These raids target the beachhead, which is protected by one CVE TF. I think these are kamikazes rather than sweepers.

[Canoerebel]

12/2/44

Kwangchowan: Allied LBA strike aircraft target the pair of tuckered out, vulnerable enemy cruisers but not with marked success.

[Canoerebel]

12/2/44

Kwangchowan: Targeting nimble DDs.

[adarbrauner]

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

12/2/44

Kwangchowan: Both sides low on ammo. When the sun comes up, some enemy combat ships may be vulnerable to air attack.

And now let'ssee wether your opponent has set up a good and sufficient coordination between land air and naval-ships, i.e. a very strong CAP on his ships;

given the past occurencies, and the hastiness whith which he wrapped up his attack, I doubt it unfortunately, i.e. the CAP won't be enough to hurt your naval squadrons, but let's see...


any how very great kudos for his determination, no oil/fuel production left, tough lossess in the air and minor vessels, still he's up to the challenge. wow...

[Canoerebel]

12/2/44

Kwangchowan: DS lacks bite - too many carriers are out of torpedo stores, as a lot of strikes were flown as DS & The Herd journeyed north through the South China Sea.

[Canoerebel]

12/2/44

Kwangchowan: Kamikazes arrive over DS in numbers. CAP handles a lot of them but not enough. A lot of leakers; a lot of hits scored.

[Canoerebel]

12/2/44

Kwangchowan: LBA makes sure one CA won't be fit to return to the fray.

[Canoerebel]

12/2/44

Kwangchowan: Probably just paint-scratching.

[Canoerebel]

12/2/44

Kwangchowan: There seem to be targets everywhere!

[Canoerebel]

12/2/44

Kwangchowan: The fighting ends, leaving a confused map. The Allies are ashore in strength at vacant Kwangchowan. Some important Allied ships are moderately damaged; some Allied TFs are low on ammo; what happens if more kamikazes sortie and target the already-damaged ships?; and what if Dave has fresh combat TFs to feed into the fray?

I weigh those things and elect to keep the TFs on station. Landings will continue at Kwangchowan. DS will remain on patrol. My gut tells me that Dave shot his main wad but, even if not, the mission demands utmost effort.

The loss of the supply TF is worrisome. As noted previously, this op was mounted with concerns about that and fuel. Checking over everything, I think it's still fine. Already 200k supply is ashore at Samah, and there's plenty left to come in at Kwangchowan - barring further mishap.

[Canoerebel]

12/2/44

Air Losses: Japanese losses are heavy but not crippling, especially considering the hits scored.

[Canoerebel]

12/2/44

Allied Ship Losses: The supply TF lost hurts but the Allies didn't lose any fighting power.

[Canoerebel]

12/2/44

Japanese Ship Losses: CL Yura and six DDs confirmed sunk. CA Ashigara is heavily damaged. All told, I think Dave lost about 10 DDs, all low-value models.

[Canoerebel]

12/2/44

Kwangchowan: CL Yura and friends didn't do too much damage to the CVE TF.

[Canoerebel]

12/2/44

Kwangchowan: Considering the number of kami hits on the carriers, damage isn't too bad. But if another such strike should target the same ships.....

[Canoerebel]

From a denominator standpoint, this clash wasn't helpful to the Allies. The score is roughly 316 points for the Allies, 280 for Japan (that could go up, especially if a ship like Ashigara goes down).

But this battle has ramifications far beyond the points scored. For one thing, some Allied capital ships will need time in the yards. For another, Japan shot a wad and thus has one less to fight with. The invasion itself outflanks Indochina, Thailand and northern Malaya, possibly rendering them irrelevant. A new front opens in China, where Dave probably isn't ready for action behind his long-time MLR. And the Allies are an important step closer to the Home Islands, for strategic bombing.

I'm not sure if I want to pull the trigger on target 3 now. I'm weighing that option vs. landing the troops at Kwangchowan, at less risk. That could be another byproduct of the intense fighting. DS needs to replenish.

I feel good about the day's fighting, but two things tinged that feeling with a touch of slimy oiliness - seeing CL Yura get amongst the CVEs, and having the IJN CAs savage a supply TF, left a bad taste in my mouth. You don't like letting the wolves get in amongst the sheep.